What do we know of the safety and efficacy of stem cell therapeutics? Over 50 years have passed since the discovery of hematopoietic stem cells (bone marrow transplantation to cure diseases such as leukemia), over 24 years since the discovery of human embryonic stem cells (hESC), and 18 years since the discovery of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells). There are now thousands of stem cell trials underway in clinics worldwide. Despite this experience, what do we actually know about the safety and efficacy of stem cell therapeutics? [Read more…]
Direct Cell Reprogramming: What Is It and How Does It Work?
Direct cell reprogramming is the in vitro (laboratory) or in vivo (in the body) reprogramming of somatic cells into other cell types without the need for an intermediate pluripotent state. Another term for direct cell reprogramming is transdifferentiation, which is the direct conversion of one differentiated cell type into another.
There has been tremendous activity over the last decade in the development of stem cells therapeutics, which have relied on stem cell differentiation protocols, as well as techniques for direct cell reprogramming. Today, there are over 7,149+ stem cell trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and stem cell publications have increased dramatically in recent years, recently surpassing 500,000+ on PubMed.gov.
However, for all their promise, stem cells are yet to deliver on this therapeutic potential, and this failure appears due to various technical challenges that still need to be overcome. [Read more…]
Mirugen Secures A$4.5M to Advance In Vivo Cell (Re)programming, Positioning Itself as a Pioneer in the Field
Mirugen has built a strong syndicate of Australia’s leading life science and deep tech investors to drive its next phase of growth, appointing seasoned biotech entrepreneur Charlotte Casebourne Stock as Executive Chair and Acting CEO to guide the company through key development milestones.
Mogrify Raises $3.7M for Direct Cell Reprogramming and Appoints Dr. Disley CEO
Mogrify (Cell Mogrify Ltd) is a private biotechnology company has developed a direct cellular conversion technology to allow for the transformation (transmogrification) of any mature human cell type into any other – without going through a pluripotent stem cell- or progenitor cell-state. [Read more…]